Thanksgiving is the one day in the holiday season about which there is no ambiguity. Store clerks, news anchors, strangers, teachers, pastors, flight attendants, TV commercials, sales people, even government employees can say Happy Thanksgiving without fear of offending anyone. Most everyone can offer some reason to give thanks. For the moment, at least, thanksgiving is not offensive in our culture. But the question must be asked, why is “Happy Thanksgiving” not offensive? People are thankful for things, relationships, food, safety, etc. But the thanks stops there. As long as people are thankful for the gifts and not the giver there is no problem. However, if giving thanks were tied to God, the greeting would be deemed politically incorrect and […]
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Think of it, fifty or so people, faced with overwhelming odds, with only the mercy of God to sustain them, helped to change the course of human history. 1623 William Bradford, at age 33, issued a proclamation of Thanksgiving for the remaining Pilgrims who had landed on Plymouth Rock. Because of winter storms their ship, the Mayflower, came ashore several hundred miles north of their planned destination. Half of the initial company that sailed from England died in the brutal first winter after their arrival. These Pilgrims endured because of a fierce desire to be free to worship the God of the Bible. They were a literal handful of people. Yet they survived, fueled by gratitude. Fifty people. Do you, […]
It is easy to worship like we live. We become used to hiding from others what we are truly like. We smile with our lips but scorn with our hearts. We praise with our words, but doubt with our thoughts. We offer good will to all but harbor injustice in our spirit. Because we interact with flawed, imperfect humans we actually believe our charades are believable. But interacting with God is a totally different picture. God is completely perfect with no flaws. What works with people doesn’t work with God. Here is the clear reality that David embraced when he considered the person of God. Listen to David’s thoughts: I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light […]
In one way or another your children are hearing about the growing threat from ISIS. The attack on Paris is all too real. They will have questions, concerns and fears that need to be addressed. You can be sure that not once in the national media will you hear that the Living God of the Bible be called upon for protection. So what do you tell your children? First tell them that just because God is not acknowledged by the media and others does not mean that he is powerless. All of these attacks by ISIS are unfolding as God has purposed. You can also point out that as a country we have begun to act as if God does not […]
It is the Gift which saves man from himself. The gift of heaven is a gift anticipated with trembling, but received with peace. It is a gift seldom planned for, but is given according to the most loving of plans. It is a gift that exposes our faith, but is given in faithfulness. It is a gift that we are tempted to exchange for the treasures of this life. It is a gift looked upon with doubt, but, once given, removes all doubt. It is a gift we wanted to avoid, but then embraced with gratitude. It is a gift painful to contemplate, but then radically, wonderfully heals. It is a gift dreaded by the foolish, but longed for by the […]
The holiday season is a challenge. One event blurs into another: shopping, parties, dinners, list making, school plays, church festivities, decorations. And did I mention shopping? The ones who are affected the most by this hectic pace are the very ones the season is supposedly all about – your children. When things are busy, the questions and concerns of children often lose importance. They are admonished to be patient and quiet because there is a lot to do. So their questions blend into the background noise of the holidays. But children need to heard. They get caught up in the rush as well. Yes, it is supposed to be all for them, but they probably don’t realize that. Sin and […]
The leaders of the G20 nations met and observed a moment of silence regarding the terrorist attack in Paris. At the beginning of each of Sunday’s NFL games there was also a moment of silence for Paris. Tragically, the main purpose of a moment of silence is not to offend anyone who does not believe in Christianity. Everyone can feel included. However, nothing is accomplished except to ignore and offend the Lord of the Universe. It was not always so. In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt led the nation in prayer for the Allied Forces for success on D Day against the “unholy forces of our enemy.” He began the prayer by addressing Almighty God and ended the prayer by asking that […]
Paris: cafes, a concert, a football match, shots, explosions, non-stop media, equals terror. Now exchange the name of your city for Paris. Suddenly terror becomes personal. The Holy Spirit authored Scripture knowing exactly what fears you would face this night. The face of terror is ugly and unnerving. Cafes, concerts and sporting events are common experiences that we share with the people of Paris. Our prayers unite with those coming from Paris. We could just as easily share their terror as well. But God speaks to us in his word, bringing comfort in the face of fear. He knew that there would be people who claim that our God cannot save us. Terrorist attacks or not, our God is our […]
One unshakeable, one certain truth sustains us even though the chaos of shattered lives threatens those on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite the desires of those who would bring terror to all the corners of the earth our hope remains in our God, a refuge strong and sure. We pray for those in Paris for safety, for comfort and that they would seek refuge in the living God of the Bible and his Son. Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their […]
Somehow, many folks have the idea that children come first in the family. Children are growing up with the notion that they are to be served. In other words, the egg comes before the chicken! But this is not how God designed families to function. If you desire to be a loving, biblical parent you must begin by being a loving, biblical spouse. Living primarily for your children leads to making idols of your children. This is a burden that no child can bear. In the long run, it will only turn your children against you. Stability in the marriage relationship is what provides stability for the children, not the other way around. Here are at least three of the […]